Shogun Warriors

Shogun Warriors were a line of toys, licensed by Mattel during the late 1970s that consisted of a series of imported Japanese robots all based on then-popular giant robot anime shows. They were originally manufactured in three sizes, the 24 inch plastic versions, the 3.5 inch diecast metal versions and the slightly taller but much more detailed and articulated 4" diecast versions. There were later offered special versions of the more popular robots that could be manipulated into an alternate configuration. Shogun Warriors included the following:

Raideen

Getter Dragon from Getter Robo G (AKA Dragun)

Dangard Ace

Mazinger

Great Mazinger (AKA Mazinga)

Gaiking

Getter Poseidon from Getter Robo G (AKA Poseidon)

Combattler V (AKA Combattra)

Grendizer (AKA Goldorak - "jumbo" form is rare as the Mattel version was only distributed in France)

Godzilla (only in "jumbo" form)

Rodan (only in "jumbo" form and rare)

The most attractive features on these toys were the spring loaded launcher weapons such as missiles, star shuriken, and battleaxes. Some robots were able to launch their fists. The later diecast versions of these toys were also attractive for the ability to transform into different shapes. Grandizer, for instance, was changeable into a saucerlike spaceship. These "convertable" editions were the precursors to the "Transformers" line of toy robots but unlike the later toyline it was not unusual for minor dissasembly to be required to achieve the secondary form. Also the second form was not always an apparently useful one, a "giant skull" for instance.

Shogun Warriors was also licensed in 1979-1980 for a 20-issue Marvel comic written by Doug Moench where several of the robots (Raideen, Combatra, Dangard Ace) were incorporated into Marvel Universe stories.

Like certain other toylines of the 70s, the Shogun Warriors came under pressure due to safety concerns regarding their spring loaded weapons features. Toy manufacturers were facing new regulations due to reported child injuries as a result of playing with these toys. Consequently, many toy companies were forced to remodel existing toylines with child safe variations (such as spring loaded "action" missiles that would remain attached to the toy). For this reason, as well as decreasing sales, the Shogun Warriors toyline disappeared by 1980.

Several of the anime from this toyline were seen in the 80s as part of Jim Terry's Force Five series. (Wikipedia)

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